Cheri Bustos is MIA

Very good letter in the Argus/Dispatch yesterday about Cheri Bustos' habit of being "missing-in-action."

It's actually becoming somewhat of a joke.

Bustos had the opportunity to vote to fund the Rock Island Arsenal... she doesn't show up.

She had the opportunity to vote for a budget (six of them!) and finally stand for something... she votes no.

She has had eight months to hold a town hall to listen to her constituents... she has held zero.

I hear she's a good fundraiser, though, so at least there's that. Unfortunately, that does no good for her constituents, who are left out in the cold with a "missing-in-action" congresswoman.

Cheri, get your priorities straight!

Cheri Bustos Shows Extremist True Colors

Tonight, Rep. Cheri Bustos showed her true colors. While often speaking of seeking "common-sense solutions" and "bipartisanship,"Bustos cast her most extreme vote yet. Bustos voted to allow late term abortions, even at the point in which the unborn child can feel pain.

With her vote tonight, Cheri Bustos voted against 80% of Americans who believe that late term abortions should be banned. Bustos voted against protecting millions of innocent lives from the excruciating pain that SCIENCE has proven the unborn can feel at 20 weeks.

Maybe if Bustos hadn't received almost $600,000 from pro-abortion groups and donors, she could have voted with 80% of Americans who support this "common-sense" bill.

Cheri Bustos Votes to Support Millionaires, Billionaires and Big Oil

I just read the Congressional Progressive Caucus "Back to Work" budget. You can read that here: CPC Budget

On the campaign trail we heard Cheri Bustos say the following would be her principles in Congress:

1. Ensure that millionaires and billionaires pay more of their fair share of taxes.
2. End tax breaks and incentives for big oil companies and companies that ship jobs overseas.
3. Protect Social Security and Medicare.
4. Cut down on waste, fraud and abuse.

If those were her principles, then why did she vote AGAINST the Congressional Progressive Caucus budget? According to their website, their budget would do the following:

1. Enact a Fair Individual Tax:

• Immediately allows Bush tax cuts to expire for families earning over $250K

• Higher tax rates for millionaires and billionaires (from 45% to 49%)

• Taxes income from investments the same as income from wages


2. Enact a Fair Corporate Tax:

• Ends corporate tax bias toward moving jobs and profits overseas 

• Enacts a financial transactions tax

• Reduces deductions for corporate jets, meals, and entertainment 


3. Protect Health Care:

• No benefit cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security 

• Reduces health care costs by adopting a public option, negotiating drug prices, and reducing waste and fraud


By voting against this budget, it's safe to say that Cheri Bustos isn't really against low taxes for millionaires and billionaires. It's safe to say that she's okay with tax breaks for big oil companies. She's also open to cutting social security and medicare. She doesn't prioritize cutting government waste. She clearly doesn't think that tax breaks for companies that outsource are that big of a deal either, otherwise she would have voted for this bill.

Cheri should explain why she didn't support this bill. Exactly what was in it that she disagreed with?

At the bare minimum, the local media in her district should be asking these questions.

WTF?

Is this guy shitting me?

What type of website is this? Are you running for Congress or trying to recruit more people needing legal help?

Speak of the devil!

From the QCTimes, Illinois’ 17th District field taking shape

East Moline Alderman Cheri Bustos said she will file candidacy and organizational papers today with the Federal Election Commission and plans to make a formal announcement on July 13. She had planned a  June 30 announcement, but said she wanted to avoid clashing with the Fourth of July holiday.

AND

Two Democrats have formally declared bids for the office. State Sen. Dave Koehler of Peoria and Freeport Mayor George Gaulrapp have announced they’ll run. Gaulrapp just did so over the weekend.

PLUS -- Boland is in and Schwiebert is making an announcement next week about whether he will run.

This is what I'm talking about.

Bustos: Smart, personable, reasonable, attractive -- good candidate

Schwiebert: Smart, well-liked, well-known, pragmatic -- good candidate

Boland: Personable, well-liked, well-spoken, state wide candidate -- good candidate

Koehler: Strong labor, well liked, nice, well-spoken -- good candidate

Gaulrapp: Independent leaning, blue collar -- okay candidate (to be fair I need to learn more)

This is going to be an excellent primary. I've listed off the perceptions that each candidate gives off. This primary will allow the voters to select the one that can best communicate and implement their ideas to the general public.

Voters in the 17th are much more lucky this go around than how when Hare was selected.

I think the Quad Cities will be well served if any of these candidates --- gop or dem --- end up winning.